QUICK HITS: SOUTH VALLEY

PORTERVILLE Townsend to hold campaign kickoff Aug. 25

District 5 Supervisor candidate Dennis Townsend will hold a campaign kickoff starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 at the Duysen residence, 11426 Road 244 in Porterville.

Townsend said the event will include drinks and appetizers and will give residents a chance to meet and greet him.

Those wanting to attend are encouraged to R.S.V.P. by calling 7899999, extension 10, or send an e-mail to elect@ townsendgroup.net.

GOSHEN Car stolen, home burglarized

A Goshen resident’s car and other personal property was stolen Wednesday from his house during a burglary, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Between 10:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 14, Sheriff’s deputies from the Headquarters Substation responded to a residence in the 31100 Block of Wolf in Goshen for the report of a burglary. It was learned that unknown suspects entered the residence and took the victim’s, Alejandro Puentes, personal property including a vehicle described as a beige BMW 4 door. Detectives are pursuing active leads.

Anyone with more information regarding the investigation is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department via telephone at 1-800808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 725-4194.

SPRINGVILLE/ CAMP NELSON Over 27,000 marijuana plants destroyed

Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office TAGNET Unit and other agencies eradicated and destroyed over 27,000 marijuana plants in the Springville mountain area, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.

In July 2017, detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office TAGNET Unit conducted overflights in the Springville mountain area for illegal clandestine marijuana grow sites.

During the overflight, detectives located large clandestine marijuana grow sites in the Wishon and Cabbage Head area above Springville.

On Aug. 15, detectives with the TAGNET Unit conducted an operation to eradicate the illegal marijuana grow site with the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service and CAMP Task Force.

TAGNET stands for Tulare Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team.

While eradicating the illegal grow sites, detectives located numerous chemicals, a large amount of trash and the disruption of the natural waterways in the area. Detectives also located a camp site, however, they were unable to locate any information on the identity of the suspect(s) responsible for the illegal marijuana grow.

During the operation, 27,177 marijuana plants were eradicated and destroyed.

The investigation into illegal marijuana grow sites is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 7336218 or they can remain anonymous by calling TIPNOW at 725-4194 or send an e-mail to tcso@ tipnow.com.

TIPTON Man arrested for assault

A Tipton man was arrested and booked at the Adult Pre Trial Facility without incident after being charged with assault with a deadly weapon and participating in a criminal street gang, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.

At about 1 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, Tulare County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the 500 Block of North Thompson in Tipton regarding a 22-year-old female that had been shot. The victim was taken to a safe location and checked by EMS. The victim’s injury was non-life threatening. She was ultimately transported to a local hospital for treatment and released at a later time.

At 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 16, Property Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department culminated their investigation into a shooting and identified the primary suspect as Ralph Villanueva Ortega, 25, of Tipton. Ortega was contacted and arrested during a traffic stop for assault with a deadly weapon and participating in a criminal street gang, which stemmed from the shooting on July 27.

Subsequently, detectives served a search warrant at Ortega’s place of residency in the 500 Block of North Thompson road in Tipton. During the investigation, detectives contacted and detained several adults and one minor child. The following adults had active warrants and were also arrested.

Ortega, as well as Raquel Josephine Calderon, 24, of Tipton, Emilio Ortega, 27, of Tipton, and Andrew Christopher Saldivar, 28, of Tipton, were all transported and booked at the Adult Pre Trial Facility without incident.

Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 733-6218 or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting 725-4194 or through e-mail at tcso@ tipnow.com.

WOODVILLE Irrigation system stolen from orchard

A total of $8,000 was stolen from an irrigation system within an orchard near Woodville, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.

At 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 15, Sheriff’s deputies responded to an orchard near Woodville for a report of a theft of brass components from an irrigation system within the orchard. It was reported that 160 components were taken from the location with a total loss of $8,000. Evidence was located at the scene and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Ag Investigations Unit took over the investigation.

Anyone that has any information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Nicholson at 735-1898 or (800) 808-0488. Anonymous information about this crime can be reported via Tipnow at 725-4194, through email at tcso@tipnow.net or download the Tipnow application for Android or Apple phones.

CALIFORNIA HOT SPRINGS

Over 24,000 marijuana plants destroyed

Members of the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies eradicated and destroyed over 24,000 marijuana plants in California Hot Springs, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.

In July 2017, members of the U.S. Forest Service conducted overflights in the California Hot Springs mountain area for illegal clandestine marijuana grow sites.

During the overflight, Forest Service Officers located large clandestine marijuana grow sites in the Tyler Creek area and Boney White Fire Trail of California Hot Springs.

On Aug. 14, detectives with the TAGNET Unit conducted an operation to eradicate the illegal marijuana grow sites with the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service and CAMP Task Force.

TAGNET stands for Tulare Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team.

While eradicating the illegal grow sites, detectives found numerous chemicals, a large amount of trash and the disruption of the natural waterways in the area. Detectives also located a camp site, however, they were unable to locate any information on the identity of the suspect(s) responsible for the illegal marijuana grow.

During the operation, 24,108 marijuana plants were eradicated and destroyed.

The investigation into illegal marijuana grow sites is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 7336218 or they can remain anonymous by calling TIPNOW at 725-4194 or sending an e-mail to tcso@tipnow.com.